This is a smooth and creamy soup, loaded with flavor from ham and pinto beans. Thickened with sweet potatoes, yet with only a hint of sweet potato flavor in the finished soup.
Slightly spicy from Mexican spices, this soup was a surprise success the other night for dinner.
I had planned something else for dinner. However, when I started to make it, I only had a handful of the necessary ingredients. I decided to play with an idea for using sweet potatoes and pintos together and it worked out great.
If you don’t have a ham bone waiting in your freezer, simply use a bit of cooked ham. Don’t skip it though, the ham is a crucial ingredient in this soup. This soup has a smoky, salty flavor that only the ham can provide.
Ingredients
- 1 ham bone or 1/2 lb cooked ham pieces
- 1 small onion halved and peeled (do not chop)
- 3 small sweet potatoes peeled and chopped bite size, about 6 cups
- 3 cans pinto beans drained or 5 cups cooked pinto beans
- 2-3 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Mexican spice mix
- 5 cups chicken stock
- Optional: drizzle of cream for topping if desired
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the Crock-pot, cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Remove the onion with a slotted spoon and discard. Carefully remove the ham bone and any smaller pieces of bone. Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a blender in batches) and pulse the soup several times to thicken it. You can puree until smooth, as I did, or leave bite size chunks in the soup. Leave the pureed soup uncovered and cook on HIGH for another 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Cook until it has thickened. Enjoy!
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Pam says
It looks comforting and delicious.
Tricia @ saving room for dessert says
This sounds way too easy and delicious. Crock-pot soups are the best. The color is lovely and I was wondering about the sweet potato. Good to know it does not overpower the soup. Fun and easy recipe!
Sue/the view from great island says
This looks so rich and satisfying, and I know what a ham bone can do for soup. The steam rising off the soup looks amazing. I'm also loving the other soups in your linked in shots…so many soups, so little time 🙂
[email protected] eco friendly homemaking says
Oh this soup looks so creamy and good!
Trisha Chenez says
Wow, this looks delicious and healthy! I can't wait to try this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Major yumms, I'm seeing lots of sweet potato right now which is great!
Chris says
I might have to go get a ham hock and make this this weekend!